Failure to Maintain Pest-Free Environment Across Facility Wings
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain a safe, clean, comfortable, and homelike environment due to ongoing pest sightings across all five wings. During a tour, live insects, including spiders and cockroaches, were observed in resident areas such as the dining room and linen closet. Multiple residents with intact cognition reported seeing pests, including roaches, in their rooms. Staff interviews confirmed occasional sightings of roaches, flying pests, and ants, with staff trained to record these in pest logs. Review of pest sighting logs documented numerous pest sightings in resident rooms and common areas over several months, including cockroaches, ants, and other bugs. The facility's pest control policy requires regular pest control services, food storage in airtight containers, daily trash removal, and prompt reporting and investigation of pest sightings. However, the Nursing Home Administrator acknowledged that pest reporting had increased and that the current pest control contractor was not meeting expectations. The absence of a housekeeping supervisor placed the responsibility for monitoring pest control on the administrator. Despite ongoing pest control efforts, the facility continued to experience pest issues, as confirmed by both staff and residents.